According to a recent report by Sky Sports, Chelsea are inching closer towards sealing a move for Leandro Paredes from Zenit St. Petersburg during this January transfer window. The same report claims that Cesc Fabregas is now being held back from making his switch to AS Monaco until the completion of Paredas’ transfer to Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old has lit up the Russian top-flight with a number of solid displays at the back for Zenit during the course of this campaign. He has established himself as a regular first-team starter in Sergei Semak’s team after arriving from AS Roma in the summer of 2017.
Paredes has caught the eye with his performances as the midfield anchorman of the current Zenit side which is why it is no surprise that an elite club like Chelsea are looking to snap him up this month.
Paredes has made 22 appearances for the Russian outfit this term, scoring four goals while creating four assists across all competitions. He has also earned nine international caps for the Argentine national team and has one goal for his country.
The Argentine talent will be a fantastic squad option for Maurizio Sarri as he looks to bring in a like for like replacement for Cesc Fabregas. However, the Zenit midfielder needs to be aware that he would be up against the duo of N’Golo Kante and Jorginho, who are both guaranteed starters, for a place in Sarri’s starting XI. Hence, the player is better off staying at Zenit if he is looking to play more frequently on the pitch.
However, the opportunity of moving to a top club like Chelsea could be too tempting for him to turn down. The addition of Paredes will undoubtedly bolster Sarri’s midfield options at West London. The Argentine can be considered as one of the best defensive midfielders in world football so a step to the Premier League could be a fantastic opportunity for him to showcase his talents to the world.
Moreover, the Argentine talent has developed an eye for a defence-splitting pass and is also an excellent dribbler with the ball at his feet. So the Pensioners supporters can expect him to score or assist goals quite often if he does decide to move to London in the coming days.
